Notts CCC Youth Cricket Festival

MORE than 2,000 schoolchildren played in simultaneous cricket matches across the county as Notts succeeded in meeting their millennium challenge.

In all, 2,021 children participated at 34 different Nottinghamshire sites in the biggest youth festival the county has ever seen.

As part of their ongoing commitment to county cricket, PPP Healthcare asked each of the 18 First Class counties to come up with a scheme and as a result, Notts devised the Cricket 2,000 Challenge.

Initial enquiries were made with schools back in November and after six months of hard work, preparation and planning, Notts are delighted to announce they have achieved their aim.

Cricket Development Manager John Cope said: ³In the end it was mission accomplished. We set out to get 2,000 children involved in the biggest cricket festival this county has ever seen and we did it.

"There were 2,021 children playing yesterday at 24 club and 12 secondary school sites yesterday afternoon.

"All the sites operated as planned, hosting children from 140 schools - including seven special schools - who played an estimated 300 games of cricket between 1pm and 3.15pm.

"Each site also received a visit from a Notts professional who presented those taking part with a commemorative medallion and a family ticket for a County Championship game."

Mr Cope said the target had been met as a result of terrific co-operation from the schools, clubs and the staff at Trent Bridge.

"A number of people have asked us whether this will now become an annual event and we will now be asking clubs to repeat it next year to further establish the links they have created with the schools in their area," he added.